Coin controlled puppet apparatus



' Feb. 16, 1960 Filed Oct. 2, 1956 H. E. WILLIAMS COIN CONTROLLED PUPPETAPPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

HARRY E. WILL/A 2 4 mm BY 197.5 A TTOR/Vf Y2 a V Feb. 16, 1960 H. E.WILLIAMS com CONTROLLED PUPPET APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001:. 2,1956 llmlllmlww Mlillllllllllillfl fifiillllllilillllllll Feb. 16, 1960H. E. WILLIAMS com CONTROLLED PUPPEQT APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledOct. 2, 1956 mmvrox BY HARRY E WILL/0M5 Ms ATTORJVEJZ.

Feb. 16, 1960 H. E. WILLIAMS 2,924,909

COIN CONTROLLED PUPPET APPARATUS Filed Oct. 2, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4mmvron HfiRRY 5 I441. m/ns 2,924,909 COlN CONTROLLED PUPPET APPARATUSHarry E. Williams, Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Application October 2, 1956, Serial No. 613,423

3 Claims. (Cl. 46-245) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in amusement apparatuses in which there is embodied ananimated object in the form of a puppet.

A principal object of the invention is the provision in such amusementapparatus of a puppet, the action of which is controlled by a mechanismunder the manual control of the operator.

A further object of the invention is the provision in an amusementapparatus of a puppet, the actions of which are electrically induced byelectric means manually controlled in rhythm to a musical number playedby a record or sound tape playing machine. I Yet another object of theinvention is the provision of an amusement apparatus which will afiord ahigh degree of amusement and which, because of its simplicity, isoperable by a child as well as an adult.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in an amusementapparatus of the type hereinafter more fully described, of a novelarrangement for deenergizing the operating mechanism after apredetermined period of operation of such mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in an amusementapparatus of a puppet, the actions of which are manually controlled inrhythm to a musical number played by a record or tape playing machineand in which machine there is an arrangement for stopping the operationof the apparatus after a predetermined period of operation.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the amusement apparatus embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of an electric circuit embodied in theinvention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken substantiallyon line 3 -3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a puppet embodied in the invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig.3;

V Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a tape playing machine embodied in theinvention;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a cut-off switch embodied in theinvention;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken substantiallyon line 8-8 of Fig. l.

' My invention contemplates the use of a cabinet 10 preferably of aconstruction and design such as shown in Fig. 1.

Such cabinet includes a base portion 11, a viewing intermediate section12, and a head portion 13. The viewing'section 12 comprises a frontclosure 14 formed of transparent material so that the interior of thesec- United States Patent 0 tion 12 may be readily seen. The interiorwalls of the section 12 are decorated with objects such as indicated at15 to provide eye appeal. Within this viewing section 12 is arranged apuppet 16 comprising an oscillatory head 17 having a movable chin 18.The puppet 16 also has flexible arms 19 as well as flexible legs 20, thelegs 20 carrying feet 21 in the form of shoes. So far as my presentinvention relates, the construction of the puppet may be such as isconventionally employed in puppets.

In the head portion 13 of the cabinet 10 is arranged the mechanism forsupporting and actuating the puppet 16. This mechanism comprises amounting platform 22 suspended from the top wall 23 of the cabinet bymeans of suspension bars 24. On this platform 22 is a motor 25 which hassuitable driving connection with a disc 26 rotatable in a horizontalplane. Eccentrically connected as at 27 to the disc 26 is an arm 28which has connection to a link 29 carrying a sleeve section 30 mountedcoaxially with a fixed post 31 carried by the mounting plate 22.

The sleeve 30 has an extended portion 32 which extends through the post31. The lower end portion of the extension 32 is reduced, and mountedupon this reduced portion is a horizontal plate 33. To the ends of thisplate 33 are attached in any suitable manner cords 34, the ends of whichare connected as at 35 to the head 17 of the puppet.

The arrangement is such that when the disc 26 is rotated by action ofthe motor 25, the sleeve 30 will be oscillated through the medium of thelinks 28 and 29 to oscillate the head 17 relative to the body of thepuppet, thereby to move the head from side to side relative to itssupporting body.

The peripheral edge of the disc 26 is provided with spaced teeth 36 (Fgs. 5 and 8). Pivotallv mounted on a bracket 37 carried by the mountingplatform 22. is an arm 38. The arm 38 at its free end portion 39 (Figs.3 and 5) carries a depending rod 40 which is mounted for reciprocalmovement through the sleeve 30 and post 31, with an end portion 41projecting below the plate 33. To this end portion 41 is secured as at42 a cord 43, the opposte end of which passes through a suitable openingin the head 17 of the puppet and is secured to the chin 18 of the puppetso as to impart a vertical pivotal movement to the latter. This movementof the chin 18 of the head 17 of the puppet is accomplished by providingon the arm 38 a pin 44 which rests upon and is successively engaged bythe teeth 36.

The arrangement is such that as the disc 26 is rotated, the teeth 36will successively engage the pin 44 and pivot the arm 38 against theaction of a return spring 45 to reciprocate the rod 40 in the directionof its long axis, thereby to impart pivotal movement to the chin 18 tosimulate opening and closing of the mouth of the puppet 16. t

On the platform 22 are mounted solenoid coils 46, each of which includesa solenoid rod 47 (Fig. 3). The ends of these rods 47 are connected asat 48 to cords 49. The cords 49 are arranged in pairs, the pairs ofcords being indicated in Fig. 3 at 50 and 51. The ends of the cords 50are connected in any suitable manner as at 52 to the arms 19. The endsof the cords 51 are connected likewise in any suitable manner as at 53to the legs 20 of the puppet 16.

The arrangement is such that when the solenoids 46, the rods of whichcarry the cords 50, are energized, the arms of the puppet will be causedto be elevated, simulating the action of raising the arms. When thesolenoids 46, the rods of which are connected to the cords 51, areenergized, the legs 20 of the puppet will be lifted to simulate adancing action of the puppet. V I

The circuit for effecting the operation of the motor and for effectingenergization of the puppet, is indicated schematically in Fig. 2-. Inthis circuit a plug is indicated at 54, which is plugged into a sockethaving connection with a suitable power source. From one line 55, aconductor 56 extends and is connected to one side 57 of a conventionalcoin-actuated switch. The other side of the switch by conductor 58 isconnected to a relay coil 59 which in turn has its other side connectedby conductor 60 to the other power line 55. In the line 55 is a holdingswitch 5911 which is closed upon energization of the relay coil 59 toprovide a holding circuit 61 for the motor 25. In each of the circuit 62of the motor and the holding circuit 61, is a play-over switch 63 whichis opened upon energization of the relay coil 64 arranged in a circuit65, in which circuit there is a normally open switch 66. Through thecircuit 65' the relay coil 64 is connected to the lines 55 and 55. Inthiscircuit the solenoids 46 are arranged in circuits 67, in whichcircuits are arranged normally open switches 68 and 68, 69 and 69. Theseswitches 68, 68', 69 and .691are adapted to be manually closed by pushbuttons 70, 70, 71 and 71' mounted upon a horizontal wall 72 of thecabinet extending outwardly from the lower end portion of the viewingsection 12 thereof.

The arrangement is such that upon deposit of a coin through the mediumof a conventional coin slide 73, associated with the cabinet 10, theswitch 57 will be closed and the relay coil 59 energized. Energizationof this relay coil 59 will close the switch 59a, thereby to establish aholding circuit for the motor'25. The motor 25 when energized willoperate to effect rotation of the disc 26 for the reasons hereinbeforestated.

The rotationof the'disc 26 will through the mechanism hereinbeforedescribed, etfectthe intermittent movement of the head and chin of thepuppet during the cycle of operation of the apparatus. To eifect theelevation of the armsand the movement of the legs of the puppet tosimulate dancing thereof, the operator will momentarily close theswitches 68. and 68' by exerting pressure on the push buttons 70 and70'. The closing of these switches will energize the solenoid coils, therods of which control the movement of the arms 19. When the push buttons71 and 71 are momentarily closed, the solenoid coils 46 the rods ofwhich control the movement of the-legs 20 of the puppet, will beenergized and thuseffect a simulated dancing action of the puppet. Fromthis, it is apparent that by momentarily closing the switches70, 70', 71and 71, the arms and legs of'the puppet may be simultaneously oralternately moved to'simulate the desired dancing action.

Inthe preferred form of construction of my invention it is desirablethat a musical number be played so that the operator of the apparatusmay cause the puppet to dance in rhythm with the music of-such number.To accomplish this, I provide a record or tape'sound-reproducingapparatus schen'latic'ally indicate at 74. In the form of constructionshown, the sound-reproducing apparatus is designedfor the playing of amagnetic sound-reproducing tape 75. This sound-reproducing apparatus maybe of any approved construction modified to include the-followingconstruction which'is designed to control the period of operation of theapparatus embodying this invention. In this connection, I provide on thetape ata predeterminde point a conductor'strip 76. This conductor strip76 will, by movement'of the'tape at a'predetermined time come intocontact with extensions 77 of switch fingers 78' of the switch 66. Thearrangement is such that when the contact strip 76 bridges the fingers77, the coil 64 will be energized, opening the switches 63in thecircuits 61 and 62, thereby to d'eenergize the motor 25 and the coil 59;The deenergizationof the coil 59 permits-the switch 59a to open, therebydeener'gizing the entire circuit until a coin is again deposited'throughthe'medium of the coin slide 73 to close the switch-57;

By this arrangement} I provide a simple: yet: efiective 4 I means forstopping the operation of the apparatus at predetermined time.-

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that a child or anadult will be greatly amused by the action of the puppet, which actionis under the control of the operator who may cause the puppet to dancein rhythm with the musical number being played by the sound-reproducingapparatus. For example,-if the operator desires to have only one leg ofthe puppet perform the dancing action as well as one arm, this may beaccomplished by momentarily closing the switches which control thecircuits to the solenoids which control the cords attached to theparticular legor arm id be animated in rhythm to the music. 7

Speakers amplifying the music from the sound-reproducing apparatus maybe mounted as at 79 within the head portion 13 of the cabinet.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred formof constructionfor carryingmy invention into effect, this is capable of variation andmodification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I,therefore, do not wish to be limited to-the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire'to avail myself of such variationsand modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my" invention, what I claim as new and desire isprotect by Letters Patent is:

l. A coin controlled amusement apparatus'of the class describedcomprising a'puppet having flexible movable body portions consisting ofa head, mouth,- arms and legs, means for supporting certain of saidmovablebody portions for independent movement relative to each other, amotor for effecting simultaneous animation of said head and mouth bodyportions, independent electromagnetic solenoids for effectingindependentanimation of said arms and legs, an electric circuitenergized by acoin for efi'ecting the simultaneous animation of saidhead and mouth, manually controlled independently operated push buttonswitches in said circuit for selectively energizing said solenoids foreffecting animation of said arms and legs, an endless tape soundreproducing apparatus in said circuit and energized by the coinsimultaneously with the energization of said motor eflecting animatingmeans of said head and mouth, a conductor of said head attached to ashaft rotatable through a horizontal plane, a movable disc insuch'apparatus having operative connection to said rockable shaft andsaid rotatable shaft and adapted upon rotation to cause correspondingrocking and rotational movement of sa'id' shafts, an electric motor forrotating said disc so as to effect simultaneous animation of said headand mouth, independent electromagnetic solenoids carried in a verticalplane with respect to said cord supporting puppet and providingoperative connection to certain supporting cords and adapted uponenergization to effect independent animation of said arms and legs, anelectric circuit energized by a coin for elfecting ener-gizationof saidmotor, manually controlled independentlyoperated" push button switchesin said circuit for selectively energizing said solenoids for effectingselective animation of said arms andlegs, an endless tape soundreproducing apparatus in said circuit and energized bythe coinsimultaneously with the energization of said motor, a conductor strip onsaid: tape and adapted to momentarily open-a normally" closed switchinsaid circuit-after-"a' pre determined period of operation of said soundreproducing apparatus so as to deenergize said circuit.

3. A coin controlled amusement apparatus of the class describedcomprising a cord supporting puppet having flexible movable bodyportions consisting of a head, mouth, arms and legs, certain of saidmovable body portions having their supporting cords actuated by arotatable disc whereby animation may be imparted to said certain movablebody portions by rotation of said disc, an electric motor for rotatingsaid disc, independent electromagnetic solenoids carried in a verticalplane with respect to said cord supporting puppet and providingoperative connections to certain supporting cords and adapted uponenergization to effect independent animation of said arms and legs, anelectric circuit energized by a coin for efiecting energization of saidmotor, manually controlled independently operated push button switchesin said circuit for selectively energizing said solenoids for eifectingselective animation of said arms and legs, an endless tape soundreproducing apparatus in said circuit and energized by the coinsimultaneously with the energization of said motor, a conductor strip onsaid tape and adapted to momentarily open a normally closed switch insaid circuit after a predetermined period of operation of said soundreproducting apparatus so as to deenergize said circuit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

